HEROIC EXPLOIT OF TAIHAPE TROOPER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 7

HEROIC EXPLOIT OF TAIHAPE TROOPER.

DESERT ADVENTURE.

Awarded D.C.M. For Epic

Of Endurance.

United Press Association.—Copyright

(Reed. noon.)

LONDON'. April l.'i

•Stranded with three others in the Libyan Desert, a New Zealander, '\ rooper Ronald Moore, of Taihape, who led the party, preferred to walk 200 miles to the base rather than SO miles to the nearest Italian outpost.

I rooper Moore's companions were Guardsman East on, suffering from a bullet wound in the throat, and Private Tighe and Cuardsman Winchester. The

party was returning from a "OOniile patrol when the enemy attacked. They escaped but lost track. They found a two-gallon tin of water dropped from a truck, but no food."

Private Tighe. on the lifth day, was exhausted, and persuaded his companions to leave him behind. A French patrol found him on the sixth day, and he was able to explain that his three companions were ahead. A I'lencU plane located Trooper Moore and Guardsman Winchester, and a search party found (iuardsman Huston on the twelfth day. He died soon afterwards owing to the wound in his throat. Guardsman Winchester was next found, l.ving in the sand terribly exhausted and semi-delirous.

Trooper Moore was still farther ahead. He appeared'normal and waved without stopping because lie was determined to reach the base in two more da vs.

Private Tighe and (Juardsman Winchester are now recovering. Trooper Moore hardly suffered anv after effects.

Corporal Moore, whose award is believed to be the first decoration won by a member of the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt, was born at Te Aroba and educated at laihape. lie enlisted on the lir«t day that volunteers were, called for and went to camp at ltopu Ilopti with the divisional cavalry, 'transferred to the long-range desert patrol group in Egypt, he \va» one of the lirst five to be instructed in desert tactic*. It is a coincidence, that an uncle of Corporal Moore. Mr. 1). -Murphy, of Hamilton, won the same distinction in the last war.